OFFICE OF PUBLIC INQUIRIES · GENEVA
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS.
The Hall receives a considerable volume of correspondence, much of it from a single household. The most frequent questions are answered below.
Answers are final.
I.
The Championship
How can someone be the World Champion if he frequently loses?
The Hall recognizes only officially sanctioned World Championship results. Recreational outcomes, while personally meaningful to the participants, do not affect championship standing.
Has Mr. Boudreau ever lost a sanctioned championship match?
No. Not once in twenty-five years and 1,284 sanctioned matches.
Has another player ever defeated Stephen Boudreau?
Yes. Repeatedly.
Then why aren’t they World Champion?
Because the championship was not among the things they won.
Is Stephen Boudreau the best UNO player in the world?
The Hall does not maintain a ranking of playing ability. It maintains a ranking of officially recognized champions.
Mr. Boudreau is ranked first.
Is Stephen Boudreau actually good at UNO?
The Hall does not comment on hypothetical questions.
What happens if another player defeats Mr. Boudreau in a sanctioned match?
The Hall maintains appropriate procedures for evaluating the possibility of a championship transition.
Procedures for carrying out such a transition remain under development.
Why are positions two through five in the world rankings vacant?
The Hall maintains strict eligibility requirements for its world rankings. These requirements are currently under review.
II.
Sanctioning
Who decides which games count?
The Championship Sanctioning Committee.
Can we agree before a game that it will count as a championship?
Of course. The Committee has no objection to private agreements among recreational participants.
The Committee is not a party to those agreements.
Can I request an emergency championship match?
Certainly. Emergency requests must be submitted in writing at least ten business days before the proposed event.
Can a match be declared official after it has already started?
Yes. Under Article VII, Section 4, the Committee may sanction a match before, during, or immediately before the final card is played. Advance notice to the other competitors is not required.
Why does Mr. Boudreau’s phone ring just before he wins?
When a match is elevated to championship status, the Committee notifies the reigning champion directly. Calls are placed from Geneva by Sir Reginald P. Worthington III. The timing reflects the Committee’s procedures.
Can I speak directly to Sir Reginald?
The Chairman does not accept incoming calls.
Then how does Stephen speak to him?
The Chairman places outgoing calls when necessary.
Why didn’t my phone ring when I was about to win?
The Committee telephones only when a championship is at stake.
Why are some losses classified as preseason games?
Because they occurred during the preseason.
When does the preseason end?
The competitive calendar is set by the Committee and may be adjusted without notice. It is published in full on the Official Calendar.
III.
The Record
I beat him. Will it be recorded?
The Hall will certify your reported victory in writing. You may request a Certificate of Recreational Victory.
The championship record requires no correction.
I have video evidence that I beat Stephen. Will the Committee review it?
Certainly.
Video evidence may establish who won a particular game.
The Committee would appreciate it if future submissions addressed the question of championship sanctioning rather than repeatedly establishing facts that are not in dispute.
Does a Certificate of Recreational Victory count toward the title?
No. It says so on the certificate.
Can I use my Certificate of Recreational Victory as evidence in a championship appeal?
Yes.
The certificate establishes that the match was recreational.
Why aren’t all 1,284 victories in the registry?
The Hall’s historical archive is being digitized. The absence of a report from the online registry must not be mistaken for the absence of a victory.
IV.
Appeals
Can a player appeal a championship ruling?
Absolutely. The Hall believes strongly in transparency and due process. File an appeal.
Can I appeal the decision on my appeal?
Yes. Appeals of final rulings may be submitted to the Appeals Review Subcommittee.
The original ruling remains final while its finality is under review.
How long does an appeal take?
Most appeals are more than 99% complete within minutes of filing.
Who sits on the appropriate subcommittee?
Members’ identities are withheld under Article IX, to protect the independence of their deliberations.
For additional guidance concerning championship jurisdiction, consult the Court’s published landmark decisions. VIEW LEGAL PRECEDENTS
V.
The Institution
Is the Hall independent?
Entirely. The Committee’s decisions have never been influenced by Mr. Boudreau. Mr. Boudreau has confirmed this.
Does the Hall apply the same standards to every World Champion?
Without exception.
Has Sir Reginald ever played UNO?
No. This has never been considered relevant to his qualifications.
Has the Hall ever investigated itself?
Yes, on several occasions. Its findings have been consistently favorable.
What happens when Stephen Boudreau retires?
The Committee has established a working group to examine the matter.
Its first meeting has been postponed.
Is this website a joke?
This question has been referred to the appropriate subcommittee.